The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
SPRING CHALLENGE 2010
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Task Ideas Spring
Melissa wrote: "one more idea...Read a book featured in the Goodreads email newsletter for one of the spring months (March, April, May), or read a book by one of the authors interviewed in those newsletters."
I like this idea, too, but what if the task was to read something from the newsletter or one of the sponsored books on the side panel on the site, so basically anything that Goodreads recommends? That way you wouldn't need to wait until the end of each month to pick a book.
Ms. Anderson that is a great idea!!! I don't know how many books I've added to my to be read list just from the side bars.
Aren't the side bars all paid advertisements?
Anybody keep secretly hoping that Cynthia is putting it up sometime tonight?! :)I keep crossing my fingers and checking back. Cynthia, what have you done to us all!? You have made us addicts! :)
Jamie wrote: "Anybody keep secretly hoping that Cynthia is putting it up sometime tonight?! :)I keep crossing my fingers and checking back. Cynthia, what have you done to us all!? You have made us addicts! :)"
I have definitely checked this page every thirty minutes since 9 this morning... I want to see what we will be doing!!!
Kathryn wrote: "Jamie wrote: "Anybody keep secretly hoping that Cynthia is putting it up sometime tonight?! :)I keep crossing my fingers and checking back. Cynthia, what have you done to us all!? You have made u..."
Glad I'm not the only one!! :)
Jamie wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Jamie wrote: "Anybody keep secretly hoping that Cynthia is putting it up sometime tonight?! :)I keep crossing my fingers and checking back. Cynthia, what have you done to us all!?..."
I was talking to one of my other friends who also takes part in this challenge and she has been wanting the list to come up as well. And on the suggestion box thread there have been several hints of people wanting to see the list. I think many of us are itching to fit books into place. Start reading to the halfway mark. Pretty much anything to do with the new challenge! Only 12 days till it starts and I need that time to plan/prepare!
Kathryn wrote: "Jamie wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Jamie wrote: "Anybody keep secretly hoping that Cynthia is putting it up sometime tonight?! :)I keep crossing my fingers and checking back. Cynthia, what have you do..."
I just get sooo giddy when the list comes out and I just spend hours trying to fit books in tasks and switching them around. I think I add about 50 books to my TBR list just by searching for books to fit. lol
"Melissa wrote: "Read a book featured in the Goodreads email newsletter or read a book by one of the authors interviewed in those ..."I was going to suggest rather than the spring months, which means not knowing all the options until 2/3 through the challenge, to use the past three months. Only, I don't receive the email newsletters and I can't seem to find an archive on goodreads.
Ms Anderson wrote: "I like this idea, too, but what if the task was to read something from the newsletter or one of the sponsored books on the side panel on the site..."
Which sponsored books on which side-panel?
Jamie wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Jamie wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Jamie wrote: "Anybody keep secretly hoping that Cynthia is putting it up sometime tonight?! :)I keep crossing my fingers and checking back. Cynthia, ..."
I know, me too. Sometimes I think it is the best part of the challenge. Do you think she is waiting to find out the winners of some of the challenges? Or to get challenges from some of the winners? Like the voting is still going on for the best review...
This is only my first challenge, but for the Winter Challenge, she posted the 5, 10 and 15 point tasks (which are her choice) and any others that had come in already. Then she updated the list as people got their challenges in to her.I would guess that what she is doing is trying to balance what she has (i.e. not too many of one genre, covering a wide variety of interests, etc.)
Ashley wrote: "This is only my first challenge, but for the Winter Challenge, she posted the 5, 10 and 15 point tasks (which are her choice) and any others that had come in already. Then she updated the list as ..."lol, I have participated for five challenges now... I just feel like she usually has it out by now. Though, admittedly, that could be my impatience going out.
I agree, Ashley. I've been doing a challenge in the group I moderate. It's not nearly this big and we only do it 2x a year. It takes me about a good month to really get it perfect. I am always trying to make it pretty balanced, get the wording perfect so the tasks are clear, and also I research some of the harder tasks to see if there is a variety of books to read. So, I'm sure she's been doing it for a while and adding to the list but is really putting the finishing touches on it! :)
Liz,Old newsletters: http://www.goodreads.com/newsletter
The side bar: when you look on a page, along the right-hand side where it has links to different parts of the group, an option to search within a thread, a list of books that have been mentioned in the thread, etc., there is a box that says "Sponsored Links" and two random books (or sometimes a book and a site).
I have a question and don't know where to post it, so I'll try here:I know the rule is that you can count a book that have read less than half of before the challenge starts, but is there a limit to the number of books that you can read part of? In other words, if I read 48% of book A, I can finish it in March and count it toward the Spring Challenge. If I've read 48% of, say, 5 books on Feb. 28th, can I use all five once they are finished in March?
It's a pretty hypothetical question for me, as I don't usually read more than one or two at a time. But I was wondering, so thought I'd ask!
I think that it can be more than one book that you are halfway in..but I'm not sure. I'm kinda thinking that is how a bunch of people already had like 2 books finished by the first 12 hours. lol
Jamie wrote: "I think that it can be more than one book that you are halfway in..but I'm not sure. I'm kinda thinking that is how a bunch of people already had like 2 books finished by the first 12 hours. lol"I just read fast, so that's why I had books done already >_>
Ms Anderson wrote: "Jamie wrote: "I think that it can be more than one book that you are halfway in..but I'm not sure. I'm kinda thinking that is how a bunch of people already had like 2 books finished by the first 12..."And that too! Haha. I read pretty fast but not that fast. You all have made me a humble little reader. I used to think I was so fast until I started these challenges! lol
And ps. I wasn't saying that in a bad way at all..about people starting a few books before and being halfway. Just realized that it could have sounded bitter or snooty or something. :)
I'm a fast read also, but 3 books in the first hour of the challenge, with no pre-half-reads, is beyond me!!
Ms Anderson wrote: "Liz, Old newsletters: http://www.goodreads.com/newsletterThe side bar: when you look on a page, along the right-hand side where it has links to different parts of the group, an option to search ..."
Thanks! I never realized those were goodreads sponsored books/links & always skipped over them as I do the ad immediately below the sponsored box.
Kathryn wrote: "Ashley wrote: "This is only my first challenge, but for the Winter Challenge, she posted the 5, 10 and 15 point tasks (which are her choice) and any others that had come in already. Then she updat..."Yeah they are usually up by now. She's making me anxious! I'm excited for new tasks!
I finished 20 of the tasks this time. In the Fall one, I only finished 7 but I joined in the middle of Fall challenge.
Ashley wrote: "I'm a fast read also, but 3 books in the first hour of the challenge, with no pre-half-reads, is beyond me!!"Even with pre-reads, it's beyond me.
Jayme wrote: "I finished 20 of the tasks this time. In the Fall one, I only finished 7 but I joined in the middle of Fall challenge."Jayme, since finishing a Challenge isn't an option for me, I've taken to seeing how many tasks I finish. It always falls between 20-25 tasks, which I think is reasonable for me so I set my goals to the number of tasks being in the mid-20s.
She said she hopes to have them off by Wednesday.. give her time!
I saw that..I'm not rushing her. We are just excited! I hope that Cynthia knows that..that we aren't being rude or pushy.
Am I the only one that's hoping she doesn't post? I need every spare minute of the next two weeks to finish all of the multi-book tasks I'm in the middle of and the instant Cynthia posts I know I'll have to drop everything and start planning - I have no self-control!!!
I have two weeks to finish a 500 page book.
I'm in the same boat. I just started Northern Lights 561 pgs, but I still can't wait for the list, lol.
Has anyone considered that Cynthia loves to watch us squirm with anticipation at the new list? Maybe she has it done and she is just watching and laughing at us all. No, probably not, but it would be pretty funny if she did.
possibly, but when the new list goes up, i have to reconfigure my books to the new list.
Jamie wrote: "I agree, Ashley. I've been doing a challenge in the group I moderate. It's not nearly this big and we only do it 2x a year. It takes me about a good month to really get it perfect. I am always tryi..."Hi Jamie, where is this challenge? Not that I need more challenges, just curious .. like an addict ..
Julie wrote: "Has anyone considered that Cynthia loves to watch us squirm with anticipation at the new list? Maybe she has it done and she is just watching and laughing at us all. No, probably not, but it woul..."Haha I LOVE this idea!
Shannon wrote: "Jamie wrote: "I agree, Ashley. I've been doing a challenge in the group I moderate. It's not nearly this big and we only do it 2x a year. It takes me about a good month to really get it perfect. I ..."It is on the college students group. I got so anxious for a new list to plan that I pulled it up and started planning books for that task. I will probably try to combine books for both of the challenges. You had some really great tasks, Jamie! I like how yours runs longer, so books I wanted to fit and didn't have time because of this challenge, I can still read and fit!
I hadn't actually seen that she intended to post on Wednesday... I didn't mean to sound pushy. Just super, super excited! I love new tasks. Even after the challenge starts, I start anxiously waiting for the midway task. Wow, I really do feel like an addict. Well, off to read for a little while! Will check back for list in a little while.
Thanks Kathryn - agree, some great tasks there!
Shannon wrote: "Thanks Kathryn - agree, some great tasks there!"I think it will be fun to have some "summer" reads to do while doing this challenge. I like the one about the 100 top beach reads. I read through the list and wrote down all the ones I was interested in. It will be hard to put books in just one task! But then again, that is a problem I have every challenge!
Well, it's Wednesday. . . taps foot expectantly. . .LOL.
Ashley wrote: "Well, it's Wednesday. . . taps foot expectantly. . .LOL."
lol, I know, right? I have been checking at the end of every chapter I read. I want to see the list!
I have to say, though, that these past few days of pleasant anticipation have been a bright spot in this suck-fest of a winter!When is Sppprrrrriiiinnnnggggg going to get here?
Kathryn where did you get the beach reads? I was trying to find them.
Sarah wrote: "Kathryn where did you get the beach reads? I was trying to find them."Here you go...
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...
Kathryn wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Well, it's Wednesday. . . taps foot expectantly. . .LOL."
lol, I know, right? I have been checking at the end of every chapter I read. I want to see the list!"
I'm at work during my break period to see if the list is posted yet. Maybe during 8th it will be? But then I'll be tempted to ignore the kids during study hall final period while I make my list if the tasks ARE posted, and that would get me in trouble... *sigh*
I'm also stalking the group from work. My company blocks GR so I've been sneaking peeks on my Crackberry! :)
Ms Anderson wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Well, it's Wednesday. . . taps foot expectantly. . .LOL."
lol, I know, right? I have been checking at the end of every chapter I read. I want to see the list!"..."
It is just study hall... I am sure the kids can will be fine ;)
Hahaha. Glad to see I’m not the only one!I’m replacing at reception today all day, which is about the only time I get to surf the Internet. I’m soooooooo hoping the tasks come up today so that I could start hunting down books- while not having it encroach on my reading time. LOL!
I’m also at page 600 of a 1000 page book so I’m hoping I could get that finished by the end of this week. I’ve got a few multi-book tasks that I’d like to finish… I usually end up abandoning them towards the end of one challenge in favor of finding books for the next challenge.
Cynthia you’ve turned us all into addicts!
Tanya wrote: "Hahaha. Glad to see I’m not the only one!I’m replacing at reception today all day, which is about the only time I get to surf the Internet. I’m soooooooo hoping the tasks come up today so that ..."
lol, I have pretty much given up on the winter challenge and I want to pick books that I can read to the half-way point so I have better hope for the spring challenge. When I say better hope, I don't mean of finishing... I mean of meeting my goal of like 200 points or something.
Study hall, schmuddy hall. You are setting a good example for them, with your love of reading!!See, I can justify it for you ;)
Cynthia is hiding from us now, I think. . .
I will say that I am getting caught up on tv now that my reading pace has slowed a bit. I'm getting my chores done at night with the tv on and have caught up on my shows. Can't do that while reading! Of course now I know way more than I care to admit about this season of "The Bachelor". *blush*
The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Northern Lights (other topics)Skeletons at the Feast (other topics)
The German Woman (other topics)
Cruel World: The Children of Europe in the Nazi Web (other topics)
Lost & Found (other topics)
More...
Read a book featured in the Goodreads email newsletter for one of the spring months (March, April, May), or read a book by one of the authors interviewed in those newsletters."
I like that idea! I also think it would be cool to read a book by one of the authors interviewed! Smart idea!!!